The Shed: It Takes Balls To Talk

During October, Warwick Arts Centre’s carpenter Philip Roe built a bothy shed in collaboration with a community of men and people who care for them.

This project has been brought together by It Takes Balls To Talk – a campaign founded in Coventry and Warwickshire which uses sporting themes to encourage men and people who care about them, to talk about how they feel. 

On evenings, 6-8pm, between 16-30 November It Takes Balls To Talk will be in residence in conjunction with community and medical partners including Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust – the local mental health support team, Talking Therapies and community partners such as Willenhall Men’s Support and Pathways, to encourage safe discourse about mental health.

Outside of these times, The Shed is also available to any individuals or groups who would like to meet, converse, or take time out to reflect, read, or interact with the artwork. Signage is available to indicate if you require privacy during this time.

A number of men from peer support networks in Coventry such as Pathways and Willenhall Men’s Support have been involved in the building and realisation of this project. 

Street artist Michael Batchelor (Instagram: @dynamickart) has additionally been attending group sessions to realise large-scale artworks to exhibit inside the Shed throughout November – sharing a message of unity, hope and togetherness. 

Community wellbeing run

On Wednesday 6 November at 8am, Warwick Arts Centre is teaming up with Warwick Wellbeing Services, Warwick Sports and Wellness Hub and our community partners to co-host a community 5k run. 

This will be followed by an opportunity to grab a paintbrush and help us put the finishing touches on the shed inside Warwick Arts Centre's workshop, before it gets installed in our foyer. We’d love you to join us!

Meet point: In front of Warwick Arts Centre’s main entrance (Benugo restaurant side), 8am.

Suicide Awareness Talk & Q&A

On Tuesday 26 November, at 4.30pm, Dr Alex Cotton MBE, Hon DSc Warwick University will be hosting a free 1-hour talk and Q&A inside our Helen Martin Studio covering her experience as an NHS mental health nurse for 30 years which included working with West Midlands Police as a Street Triage Nurse.

Entry is free but limited in numbers. 

Warning: This talk is themed around mental health and will include discussions about suicide. Please refer to the additional support section below 

Our Partners

It Takes Balls To Talk

It Takes Balls To Talk is a local campaign which goes to where people are to have those conversations, reaching people who other services haven’t reached.  

Suicide is the biggest cause of death in men under the age of 45 and over three quarters of people who end their own lives are male. There are more deaths by male suicide than cancer and road traffic accidents put together.

Dr Alex Cotton (MBE and Hon DSc, University of Warwick) founded It Takes Balls To Talk in 2015 after working within NHS mental health services and West Midlands Police as a Street Triage Nurse, for over twenty years.

Willenhall Men’s Support 

Willenhall Men’s Support is a peer support network where men, especially those who may have experienced isolation, social, mental or other health issues, can seek company and conversation in a safe and supportive environment. 

The core activity of the group is a weekly meeting on Wednesdays from 4:30pm - 7:30pm at the Hagard Community Space, Willenhall. Members also communicate with each other on a dedicated WhatsApp chat group. 

WMS has affiliations with other organisations that share our aims, which provides opportunities for members to widen their interests and connections. We also organise (usually free) activities in which members can participate if they wish. Membership is open to all men and is free. To join the group, just turn up!

Pathways

Pathways meet weekly on alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays, at Nulogic Academy, 25 St Columbus Close, Coventry, CV1 4BX. Doors open 6.45pm for a brew and a biscuit with the meeting starting at 7pm. 

The idea of the meetings is to create an environment that allows men to share what is on their mind, seek advice, get inspiration and meet like-minded people. 

Whatever your reasons to come along - if you're struggling with your mental health or you just want to be part of a community of people trying to be positive, we're ready when you are!”

@pathways_cov

In Addition

We would like to thank Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership Trust, NHS Talking Therapies and Wellbeing and Student Support (University of Warwick). 

Additional support

If you require any additional support, we recommend contacting Samaritans or Calm which both offer anonymous helplines and NHS Every Mind Matters. In emergencies, you are advised to call NHS 111 (option 2 for mental health services) or 999 if you are in a life threatening situation.

If you are a Warwick student and do not require urgent care, we recommend reaching out to Wellbeing Services (Warwick Students). Opening hours are 8.30-5pm Monday-Thursday and 8.30-4pm (Fridays). 

If you are a Warwick student and require critical assistance, you may also contact our Community Safety team who operate 24 hours daily and can be reached via 024 7652 2222.